Means and method for selectively breaking fragile members



Sept. 29, 1964 M. D'APOLITO ETAL 3,150,306

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY BREAKING FRAGILE, MEMBERS 7 Sheacs-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1962 a EN EN INVENTORS. MATTEO DAPOL/TO,CONRAD L. LEBLANC and JOSEPH J. H/TOV BY ficiw ATTORNEY.

Sept. 29, 1964 M. D'APOLITO ETAL 3,

' MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY BREAKING FRAGILE MEMBERS Filed April10, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l o g 0 K I50 INVENTORS MATTEO DAPOLITOCONRAD L. LEBLANC 1 Q I and JOSEPH J. HITOV .J Ll] Ofi u fl ATTORNEY.

P 1964 M. D'APOLITO ETAL. 3,150,306

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY BREAKING FRAGILE MEMBERS Filed April10, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 I I 1 I 3] E I 99] F 2eo 29"? O I L 252; I A

{3? I26 E 257 o o 258 U 259 JIE CC!] I 27 INVENTIOILS'.

E: MATTEO DAPOLITO, A CONRAD L. LEBLANC and JOSEPH J. H/TOV ATTORNEY.

Sept. 29, 1964 D'APOLITO ETAL 3,150,806

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY BREAKING FRAGILE MEMBERS Filed April10, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

MATTE D'APOLITO, CONRA LE BLANC and JOSEPH J. HITOV ATTORNEY.

Sept. 29, 1964 D'APOLITO ETAL 3 ,150,806

MEANS; Am METHOD FOR sEJLEcTIvEw BREAKING FRAGILEF MEMBERS Filed! April.10, L962? 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

MATTEO D'APOLITO, CONRAD L. LEBLANC and JOSEPH J. HITOV BY q' mufl-ATTORNEY.

p 29, 1954 M. D'APOLITO ETAL 3,150,806

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY BREAKING FRAGILE MEMBERS 7 SheetsSheet6 Filed April 10, 1962 I20 IFIG.6

FIG-.8

[FIG.9

INVENTORS MATTEO D'APOLITO, CONRAD L. LEBLANC and JOSEPH J. HITOV BY 4fit M ATTORNEY.

p 29, 1954 M. DAPOLITO ETAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR SELBCTIVELY BREAKINGFRAGILE MEMBERS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 10, 1962 IFIG.

mNv X M T 08/ E T EH N N.AI R ED .J ,O WO W 59 TRS ANO Mw m Y B UnitedStates Patent "ice 3,150,8tl6 MEANS AND METHUD FOR SELECTIVELY hRllAKlNGFllAtGlilLE l'td'EMBERS Matteo DApolito, Qonrad 1.. Le Blanc, and JosephJ. lli'tov, Leoxninster, Mass assignors to Foster Grant Co, inc,Lcominster, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. Ill, 1962, Ser.No. 136,393

12 (Claims. (Cl. 225-2} The present invention relates generally to ameans and method for seletively breaking frangible members. Morespecifically, this invention relates to a novel and improved machine andmethod for breaking glass members along prescored lines to obtain shapedglass articles.

It is well known that forming or breaking predetermined shaped glassarticles from glass sheets or members is a delicate procedure. Due tothe highly frangible nature of glass, many problems have been met indesigning machines and method for automatically breaking glass to formpredetermined shaped articles. For example, breakage of the articles,poor efficiency and erratic operation commonly occur. These problems arecompounded when the glass articles to be formed are completelysurrounded by the glass to be separated or broken therefrom. In manycases the problems have been insurmountable and inefficient handoperated devices must be employed.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved machine for forming or breaking predetermined shaped glassarticles from scored glass sheets.

It is another object of thi invention to provide a novel and improvedmachine for forming or breaking predetermined shaped articles fromscored glass sheets and having means for removing the articles from themachine. The machine of this invention is designed to operate withcertainty to successively and efficiently break predetermined shapedglass articles from scored glass sheets. The machine is also designed tobe relatively simply constructed with a minimum of expense.

The invention also has as an object the provision of a novel andimproved method for forming or breaking predetermined shaped glassarticles from scored glass sheets. i

The device of this invention is relatively low in cost and may functionfor long periods of time without changes or adjustment of components.The device may be employed to break or form a variety of differentshapes without any need for adjusting members of the machine. Themachine of thi invention is particularly useful for forming circular,oval or other curved, substantially planar shapes for use in eye or sunglass lenses, clock faces, microscope cover slips, etc.

The machine of this invention basically comprises a breaking means forapplying a breaking force to selected successive areas of glass members,a retaining and removal means for holding scored glass articles prior toformation thereof from a glass member and for removing and transferringthe glass articles after formation thereof from one section of themachine to a second section of the machine. in a preferred form, thebreaking means comprises a plurality of individually activated breakingjaws positioned on either side of a scored glass member during operationof the machine. A series of switches and controls may be employed toactivate various movements of the machine.

The novel and advantageous method of this invention basically comprisesthe steps of positioning a glass memher having prescored areas thereonin a breaking machine, applying a retaining on the prescored areas whichexert a slight downward force to these areas, successively breakingglass portions outside of the scored areas by employing a pinching forceand allowing the formed pre- 3,150,865 Patented Sept. 2%, lbfil scoredareas to drop slightly due to the force exerted thereon.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following specification when read inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the machine ofthis invention;

FIG. 1a is a side sectional view taken through line a-a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a left side View of the machine of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top cross sectional View taken through line 4-4-of FIG. 2 and showing certain related elements;

.FlG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through line 5-5 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an element of thepreferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the element shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view taken through line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view taken through line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a portion thereof; and,

FIG. 12 is a front view thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the machine of this invention is designatedgenerally at ltltl in FIG. 1. A feeding means designated generally atfill is shown associated with the machine. The machine fill) isdesigned.

to break circular glass lenses from a glass strip or memberapproximately 26" long and 2 /2 wide having a thickness of 0.053. Glassstrips of this type are successively scored with twelve circular lensesdtltl and directed to the feeding means fill by any conventional feedingdevice. Feeding means ltll comprises an outwardly flared funnel shapedguide channel 111 and an endless belt 12 mounted on shafts l3 and 14.Scored glass strips are successively fed to the edge of the endless belt12 which carries them forward in the direction of the arrow shown at 16.An air cylinder 17 having a reciprocal piston 18 is mounted on theunderside of guide channel H. An integral angle extension 19 is providedon the forward end of the piston 18 having an actuating lip 2ft foractuating a lever of a microswitch 21. A flat plate 2 extends upwardlyfrom and is integrally affixed to the forward end of the piston 13 andhas an upper edge which is aligned with the plane of the endless belt 12as clearly seen in FIG. la. The glass strip 15 is moved by the belt 12into the machine and is supported within the machine by a lower alignedseries of jaws 23 and $14 as best seen in FIG. 2.. When the glass strip15 has been pushed partially into the machine by the conveyor belt 12,the rear edge thereof tends to drop slightly as it leaves the end of theconveyor belt nearest the machine and thus trips a lever of amicroswitch 25 supported on a bracket as of the machine frame 27. Themicroswitch 25 actuates the air cylinder 17 causing piston 19 to moveforward. The forward motion of the piston 13 causes plate 22; to pushthe glass strip 15 into the machine into its final position shown inPIGS. 1 and 4. At the forward stroke of the piston 18, the lip 29 tripsmicroswitch 21 which starts the action of the glass breaking machine aswill be described more fully hereinafter.

The breaking means of the machine comprises two breaking sections 3%andfil which are mirror images of each other. In order to simplify thedescription only breaking section 30 will be discussed in full, but itshould be understoodthat breaking section 31 is composed of similarelements. The breaking section 3d has a casting 32 which forms amounting for mounting the section 3%) on the-frame 27 of the machine.The particular shape of the casting 32 may vary in accordance withestablished mechanical procedures. Preferably the casting 32 comprises alower outwardly extending mounting flange 33 suitably aflixed to frame27 and an upright member 34, a housing block 35, and a bottom screwmounting plate 37. Lower breaking die or jaw members 33 are fixedlymounted in the housing block 35 by plate 37 and breaker holders 36. Asbest seen in FIGS. and each lower die member 38 comprises a section 39,fixedly attached bybolts 40 to a holder 36 which is slidable withinvertical grooves in the housing block 35. The location of the sections39 may be vertically adjusted by means of set screws 42 mounted on thelower plate 37 and set screws 41 mounted on block 35. At the top of eachsection 39 is a cutting or breaking jaw or die portion 23 which extendsabove the section 39 as most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 10. Thebreaking jaw 23 is preferably composed of a hardened steel material andis adapted to apply a sharp breaking force to a glass member along asubstantially straight edge 23a. A total of 42 breaking jaws 23amemployed in section in the preferred embodiment of the machine. All ofthe breaking jaws 2 3 are axially aligned with corresponding uppercutting or breaking members as will be discussed hereinafter. Furtherthe breaking jaws are arranged so as to lie substantially within thesame plane throughout the length of the machine as best seen in FIG. 5.When a glass strip is placed in the machine it lies on and issupportedby a series of breaking jaws 23 and 24 in the sections 3!) and 31respectively as most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

Centering and glass clearing plates 56 and 51 are provided in sections3% and 31 respectively and provide a means for positioningglass membersin the machine. The plates 54) and 51 are substantially rectangular,planar metallic members which are respectively mounted on forked endpistons 53 and 54 of air cylinders 55 and 56 at one end of the machine.At the other end of the machine, the plates 50 and 51 are respectivelymounted in the same manner on air cylinders 57 and 58. The inner edgesof plates 54 and 51 lie on the breaking jaws 23 and 24 andaresubstantially parallel to each other, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Theseplates are adapted to reciprocate horizontally into and out of a centralarea of the machine between sections 30 and 31. Upon actuation of one ofthe plates, the glass strip positioned in the machine is forced intoengagement with the inner edges of plates 59 and 51 therebyproperlyposition'ing the glass member within the machine for subsequentprocessing. At the completion of the breaking cycle, as will be morefully described hereinafter, both plates 59 and 51 are actuated to moveinwardly thereby clearing any broken glass that may tend to lock betweenthe jaws 23 or the jaws 24. Broken glass is then removed from themachine by the force of gravity as clearly seen in FIG. 5 wherein glassfragments 60 are shown falling between the sections and 31. These glassfragments may be collected in a collection receptacle placed under theframe of the machine. 7

The upper portion of section 39 provides an upper housing block 61 and acover plate 62. As was clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 a series of upperbreaking die or jaw members 63 are each firmly affixed to reciprocalshafts 64 by means of lock screws 69. Each jaw member has asubstantially straight breaking edge 63a. shafts as and jaw members 63are spring biased by springs 65 which bear against the mounting block 61at one end thereof and a retaining pin d6 at a further end thereof. InFIG. 10 the springs 65 are not shown. The upper ends of the shaftsddaieangled as shown at end 68.

' It can be readily seen that as each end 68 is forced The p planarlyaligned as shown in FIG. 12, preferably in a vertical plane. The cuttingedges are also tilted with re spect'to each other as clearly shown inFIG. 11, so that they would meet at an acute angle if extended. Theplanar alignment and angular relationship are important and coact toprovide a squeezing or pinching action to glass members when the edges23a and 63a are brought toward each other. It is also important thatsharp impact of the edges 23a with the glass members be avoided as willbe discussed hereinafter.

An actuating means for successively activating individual sets of jawmembers is provided on an upstanding support bar 71 of section In? andan upstanding support bar 72 of section 31. The actuating meanscomprises an endless chain 70 supported on section 30 and a similarchain 73 supported on section 31. The actuating means for each of thesections is identical and only the actuating means for section 30 willbe described for purposes of simplifying the specification. The chain'74 extends throughout the length of the machine as clearly shown inFIG. 1 and is mounted at the forward end of the machine by a freelyrotating sprocket not shown, which is mounted on a shaft 175 whichextends between sections 30 and 31 and is suitably journaled in thesesections by c0nventional means. The other end of the chain drive ismounted on a sprocket, not shown, and suitably journaled on a rotatingdrive shaft 75 which is suitably journalcd in conventional journalsmounted on sections 30 and 31. Drive shaft 75 is actuated by a belt orchain drive 201 which is driven by a motor 76 as clearly shown in FIG.3. A cam 77 is attached to one link of the chain 76. In. the embodimentshown cam 77 is a rotatable wheel pivotably mounted on a link of chain76 by a pivot pin 292. A back-up plate '74 is located between upper andlower lengths of the chain 70 as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. Theplate 74 is mounted on the upstanding support 71. Upon actuation of thechain 7b in a direction shown by the arrows 78 and 79, the cam 77successively actuates the upper jaw members 63 by pushing each one ofthese members downwardly in the direction of the arrow shown at 8%) asthe chain rotates. As is clearly shown in FIGS.

5 and 10, the angled ends 68 allow each jaw member 63 to be steadilylowered into engagement with an underlyingglass member withoutapplication of a sharp impact force. It should be noted that cams 77 oneach section 3% and 31 act to simultaneously depress directly opposedjaw members on each side of the machine.

The cam 77 has a further function in that when it reaches a lever of amicroswitch 81 shown diagrammatigally in FIG. 1 it deactivates the driveor actuating motor Another important section of the machine comprises ameans for holding scored glass areas of the glass strip during thebreaking process and for removing and transferring shaped completedglass articles from the breaking area to a collection zone. This meansis shown most clearly in FIGS. 6-9. A frame section is providedcomprising an upper horizontal brace bar 131 fixedly attached at itsends to vertical brace bars 129 and 130 which are 1n turn fixedlyattached to a lower horizontal brace bar 128. Ends of brace bar 128 areaiiixed to sliding horizontal reciprocal blocks 127. Tubular slidingguides and 141 are vertically positioned and affixed to brace bar 128 bysuitable means such as angle iron members 134. Verticalguide shafts 125are slidably mounted in guides 140 and aifixed as by bolts 2&7 to eitherend of a lower cross bar 12%. Conventional means such as brazing,welding or bolting may be employed to form fixed joints between theaiiixed members of the machine.

A vertical air cylinder 123 is aifixed to upper brace bar 131 and has areciprocal piston 205 slidably mounted within a bore of an attachmentblock 132 afiixed to brace bar 128. The piston 205 is afiixed by anattachment nut 121 to the lower cross bar 120. Movement of piston 205 inthe directions shown at 206 causes cross bar 120 to move up or downalong with vertical guide shafts 124.

The cross bar 120 preferably has an elongated notch 208 for mounting ofsuction units 110. The suction units 110 each comprises a suction cup111 attached to a rigid tube 113. The rigid tube 113 is connected to arigid tube 114 by means of a thin resilient rubber hose 112. The rigidtubes are preferably formed of metal or rigid plastics. The rubber hosemay be composed of any resilient material which allows a small degree ofmovement between tubes 113 and 114 thereby enabling the hose to act as ashock absorber when the suction units are dropped onto the glass member.

The upper end of tube 114 is mounted on cross bar 120 by a threadedferrule 116. The outer threads of the ferrule carry nuts 117 and 118which look the ferrule on bar 120 at predetermined points in a slot ornotch 208 as most clearly seen in FIG. 9. A hollow bore 210 slidablyreceived tube 114. A slide detent 119 is afiixed to tube 114 andnormally rests at the bottom of a U-shaped vertically arranged slot inferrule 116. When an upwardly directed force is applied to suction cup111 the tube 114 and slide detent 119 move upwardly in bore 210. Whenthe force is released, gravity pulls the elements back to their normalposition as shown in the drawings.

A flexible air suction tube 211 connects tube 114 to an air suctionfitting 1193 mounted on bar 131. In FIG. 1, bar 131 is offset and bar128 broken in order toclarify and simplify the understanding of theinvention. A plurality of suction fittings 1113 are provided on bar 131corresponding in number to the tube suction units. Each fitting isconnected to an air suction bore (not shown) in bar 131 which is in turnconnected to an air suction source.

The horizontally reciprocal sliding blocks 127 are bored and slidablymounted on horizontal, parallel aligned guide shafts 126. This mountingprovides for horizontal movement of the suction unit as best shown inFIG. 3. The suction unit moves from the position shown at 260 to theposition indicated in full lines in FIG. 3. The unit is reciprocal inthe directions of the arrows shown at 2611 and 261. The guide shafts 126are each fixedly mounted to mounting blocks 270 which are suspended fromand fixedly attached to vertical rising support member 259 which are inturn atfixed to the frame 27 of the machine. A flat plate 250a, shownbroken away in FIG. 1, provides a bracing means for the top edges of thevertical rising support members 259. The bracing plate 260a furthercarries appropriate air valves 271 and 272 which are linked to the airsuction system of the machine.

Affixed to the bracing plate 260a is a horizontally located air cylinder151) having a piston 273 which is normal to the lower brace bar 128 andfirmly afiiXed to the horizontal attachment block 132 thereon.Reciprocal movement of the piston 273 in a direction axial to thecylinder 15!) actuates the suction units to move horizontally asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 3. This movement is actuatedafter breaking of the prescored glass areas of the glass member in themachine and lifting of these elements to a stop position as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

Stop members 215 limit travel of the suction units in the direction ofthe arrow shown at 261. When the suction units reach the stop members215 the scored glass areas which have been separated and broken from theglass grip member are positioned directly above a conveyor belt 251which is driven by a suitable chain and motor mechanism as shown at 253and 252, respectively, in FIG. 3. In this position a microswitch 254 isactuated by abutment of brace bar 128 with a lever arm thereof, causinga cut off of the air suction supply to the suction cups 111. At thistime, the shaped glass areas will drop onto the endless belt conveyor251 and be carried away from the machine. The suction unit is then freeto move back to its original position directly between sections 31) and31. When the original position is reached, the suction cups are free tomove downwardly upon actuation by air cylinder 123 and piston 2115 togrip a glass member which may be supplied to the machine.

The separated prescored glass areas or lenses are deposited by the belt251 onto a second endless belt 280 which remove the lenses to otherareas for further operation.

Microswitches 255, 256 and 257 are provided mounted on vertical supportmembers such as 282, 258 and 259 at the right side of the machine. Theoperation of these microswitches will be described hereinafter.

Also provided in the machine is a stop unit 283 which preferablycomprise a suction cup or rubber stopper 285 which is adjustable bymeans of the piston of an air cylinder (not shown) mounted in the stopunit 283. The front edge of the rubber stopper 2155 provides a stopmeans for limiting the travel of the front edge 284 of the glass strip15 into the machine. Preferably the stopper 285 retracts after the glassstrip 15 is positioned in the machine and returns to its originalposition after the breaking operation.

The operation of the machine of this invention is simple, efiicient andaccurate. In the resting position the suction units of the machine arevertically aligned with a plane drawn through the center of the spacebetween sections 30 and 31. The face of the suction cups 111 arehorizontally located slightly above the plane formed by the top surfaceof the conveyor belt 251. The machine is actuated by applying suction inline 3110 to the suction cups 111 while they are in the restingposition. Conveyor belt 12 is then actuated to move in a clockwisedirection and a glass strip 15 approximately 2 /2" wide and 26" long andhaving approximately twelve generally circular areas or lenses scoredthereon is fed into the funnel end of channel 11 and is carried forwardtowards the machine by conveyor belt 12. When the rear edge of the glassstrip has been pushed off the conveyor belt it tends to slide toward themachine and drop slightly. The glass strip 15 is steadily pushed intothe machine and slides along breaking jaws 23 and 24 as most clearlyseen in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the rear edge of the glass strip leaves theconveyor belt 12 the inertia imparted by the conveyor belt causes theglass strip to slide forward in front of the lip 22 and to drop slightlythus activating microswitch 25. The microswitch 25 ac tivates aircylinder 17 causing the piston 18 to move forward and lip 22 pushes theglass strip into its final position with its leading edge 254 abuttingstop 255.

Lip 26 afiixed to the piston 18 also moves forward and engages the leverarm of microswitch 21 which activates the suction unit to movedownwardly. The microswitch 21 further activates an electric timer whichcauses the controls to the air cylinder 123 to allow the piston 212-5 tomove downwardly for a predetermined time and then automatically moveupwardly to its orig inal position after a slight pause in its lowermostposition when the suction cups 111 are resting on and afiixed to theglass member 15. Just before the suction cups 111 reach the glass strip15, the lower cross bar trips a lever of microswitch 256 thus activatingmotor 76 and causing the chains 71) and 73 to rotate. At this point thesuction cups 111 become firmly attached to the lenses due to the suctionapplied. The chain drive causes cam '77 which is normally positionedjust between the air valve 82 and the microswitch 81, to activate theair valve 82. The air valve 82 in turn activates air cylinders 56 and 58which causes the plate 51 to move towards the center of the machine andfirmly position: a glass strip member and apply a slight downwardpressure.

member between the plates 5% and 51. It should be noted that cams 77 oneach of sections and 31 move simultaneously and are arranged to activatedirectly opposed upper breaking jaws 63 of the sections 30 and 31simultaneously. The breaking jaws 63 are activated, one set on eitherside of the machine, successively from the loading'end, nearest theconveyor belt 12 to the last set of breaking jaws 63 nearest the stopmember 285. Approximately 4-2 sets of breaking jaws are thus activatedin each section 30 and 31.

The foregoing movements of the machine create a breaking action that iscertain and efficient. The glass lenses which have been prescored areeasily broken from the surrounding glass strip member with accuracy andwithout chipping or harm to any portions of the preselected area. Thisease and certainty of forming of the glass lenses is due primarily totwo actions of the machine. The first action as has been described aboveis the successive breaking action of the jaw members with a squeezing orpinching action.

The second important factor is that the suction cups exert a slightdownward pressure on the scored lenses when in their lowermost position.There is a certain amount of overtravel to the piston 205 which allowsthe suction cups 111 to rest on the lenses. Further movement of thepiston 205 and cross bar 120 causes the slide detent 119 and tube 114'to move relative to the threaded ferrule 116. In eifect the U-shapedportion 115 of the ferrule is moved downwardly while the slide detentremains stationary and locates itself at the top of the U- shapedopening 115. In this position the Weight of the slide detent, tube 114,tube 113, rubber hose 112 and suction cups 111 rest upon the lens areaof the glass After the breaking jaws 63 have been actuated this slightdownward pressure, due to the force of gravity, causes the lenses todrop slightly preferably approximately one quarter of an inch. Thedownward movement of the lenses clears each lens from the glass stripmember as it is broken. Thus, as each lens is broken it tends to dropslightly and in effect is no longer part of the glass strip member.

After the cam '77 has actuated all of the breaking jaws it returns alongthe upper portion of the chain and activates the lever of microswitch81. Microswitch 81 turns off the motor 76 and thus the breaking jaws aredeactivated. At this point the timer on the air cylinder 123 actuatesthe piston 205 to move upwardly to its orig inal position locating thesuction units 110 on a plane slightly above the plane of the top surfaceof the conveyor' belt 251. The upward movement of the guide shaft 124 isterminated when it abuts and actuates a microswitch 255 having anadjustable actuating arm.

The microswitch 255 in turn actuates air cylinder 150 which causespiston 273 to more horizontally toward the conveyor belt 251'. Thepiston 273 slides the entire holding and transfer means over to aposition directly above conveyor belt 251. At this point brace bar 128trips a control member of the microswitch 254 which activates a cut offswitch to release the suction applied to the suction cups 111 and thecompleted glass lenses are deposited upon the conveyor belt 251. Thelenses may be further transferred to a second conveyor belt 230 andcarried away from the machine to a suitable area. A timer on the aircylinder 150 then returns the piston 273 to its position as shown inFIG. 1. As the right end sliding block 126 returns to its restingposition it activates a lever of mic-roswitch 257 which in turnactivates the air cylinders 56, 57, 58 and to move plates 50 and 51toward each other and clear any broken glass that may be jammed betweenthe lower breaking members.

Release of the lever of microswitch 257 allows the plates 51) and 51 toreturn to their original position as shown in FIG. 2. Alternativelyaspring means 7 attached to the machine frame at one end and to the plate'50 at a '8 second end may be employed to return the plate 50 to itsoriginal position. The return of the suction units to their originalresting position ends the cycle of the machine.

Throughout the specification and drawings elements have been simplifiedin order to clearly define applicants invention. For example in FIG. 5only certain ones of the breaking means andjsuction units have beenshown for purposes of simplicity. Further, only portions of the framestructure of the machine have been shown in order to simplify thedrawings. However it will be understood that one skilled in the art mayeasily employ conventional frame structures. Conventional electricalcircuitry and air suction attachments may be employed to interconnectthe various switches and actuating means in the present invention.

The novel and improved machine of this invention provides a means forcarrying out a unique and advantageous method of breaking prescoredareas of glass from a glass member. Preferably the method of thisinvention comprises positioning a glass member with its outer edgesresting upon a series of parallel substantially planarly aligned lowerbreaking jaws, successively bringing mating upper breaking jaws togetherthereby squeezing edges of the glass member while simultaneouslyapplying a slight downward pressure to the prescored areas of the glassmember. The specific pressure required varies with the thickness of theglass. Preferably the pressure is sufficiently high to impart downwardmovement to each scored area as it is separated from the glass member bythe breaking act-ion.

While the specific preferred embodiments of this invention havebeendescr-ibed and illustrated many variations of the invention arepossible. For example, there has been described a device having twelvesuction cups and 42 breaking jaw sets. However, it is possible to varythe number of suction cups and breaking jaws depending upon the size andnumber of the areas to be broken and the size of the glass membersemployed. It should further be understood the terms such as upward,downward, rearward, ctc., are relative terms and are not intended tolimit the invention. Various automatic feeding means may be employed, oralternatively, hand feeding may be employed.

All such variations and modifications are intended to be covered by thepresent invention which is to be limited only by the scope of thefollowing claims interpreted in the light of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for breaking a plurality of predetermined shapedglassarticles from scored glass members,

said machine comprising,

breaking means including sharp wedge shaped cutting teeth locatedadjacent the edges of said glass members and on opposite sides thereof;said cutting teeth extending only over the non scored waste areas ofsaid glass member; means for actuating said cutting teeth tosuccessively apply a cutting and wedging force to predetermined pointsalong the edges of said glass members beginning adjacent one end thereofand progressing toward the other end therea retaining and removal meansfor holding scored glass articles prior to formation thereof from aglass member and for removing and transferring said glass articles afterformation thereof from one section of the machine to a second section ofthe machine.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising apositioning means for positioning said glass members in the machine.

3. A machine for breakingpredetermined shaped glass articles from flatscored glass members,

, said machine comprising, i

a'first lower row of longitudinally aligned sharp" wedge shapedcuttingjaws,

snsoeoe a second lower row of longitudinally aligned sharp Wedge shapedcutting jaws extending substantially parallel and spaced from said firstlower row,

a first upper row of longitudinally aligned sharp wedge shaped cuttingjaws positioned above said first lower row and adapted to have selectedones of said upper jaws individually move towards selected ones of saidfirst lower jaws,

a second upper row of longitudinally aligned sharp wedge shaped cuttingjaws positioned above said second lower row and adapted to have selectedones of said upper jaws individually move towards selected ones of saidsecond lower jaws,

means for sequentially activating said cutting jaws beginning with thejaws adjacent one end of said blank and progressing towards the otherend thereof; whereby waste portions of said glass members aresuccessively cut and wedged away from said glass articles and thosewaste portions which still remain as part of said glass member.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 3 and further comprising,

suction means for engaging scored glass areas of said glass member andapplying light pressure thereto,

said suction means acting to lower those scored areas which have beenbroken away so as to provide space for succeeding portions of said glassmember to be wedged and cut away from the remainder of said member andsaid scored areas.

5. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said suction means comprises aplurality of tubular members each having a portion thereof slideablymounted in one of a plurality of ferrules,

means on each of said ferrules for allowing movement of said tubularmembers in a first direction and limiting movement of said tubularmembers in a second direction.

6. In a machine for breaking predetermined shaped glass articles from asubstantially rectangular scored fiat glass blank, said machinecomprising a retaining means for holding said articles before breakingfrom said glass blank, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of rows of substantially longitudinally aligned breakingjaws,

each of said jaws comprising a sharp wedge shaped cutting edge planarlyaligned with a second sharp wedge shaped cutting edge of a secondbreaking jaw,

said planarly aligned sharp wedge shaped cutting edge being mounted atan acute angle to each other whereby when they are brought together theyexert a cutting, wedging and pinching action therebetwecn.

7. The improvement of claim 6 and further including a means foractivating said breaking jaws whereby successive glass portions of saidglass member are engaged by said edges and broken therebetween by apinching force.

8. A machine in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising a meansfor clearing broken glass portions from said breaking edges, saidclearing means being slideably mounted on said first and secondsections.

9. A method of breaking away scrap portions from a blank having a seriesof prescored areas;

said method comprising:

successively applying cutting and wedging forces to opposite sides ofsaid blank adjacent each of the lateral edges thereof at predeterminedincrements along the length of the blank; whereby the scrap portions ofthe blank are cut and wedged away from said prescored areas. 10. Amethod of breaking away scrap portions from a frangible blank having aseries of prescored areas;

said method comprising: successively applying cutting and wedging forcesto opposite sides of said blank adjacent each of the lateral edgesthereof at predetermined increments along the length of the blank;applying a downward force on said prescored areas; whereby wasteportions of said blanks are successively cut and wedged away from theremainder of the blank and said prescored areas; and said prescoredareas are lowered when they are broken away so as to provide space forsucceeding portions of said blank to be cut and wedged away from saidblank and said prescored areas. ll. Apparatus for breaking away scrapportions from a blank having a series of prescored areas;

said apparatus comprising: first sharp wedge shaped breaking meanslocated on one side of the blank adjacent one edge thereof and incutting relationship thereto; second sharp wedge shaped breaking meanslocated on said one side of the blank adjacent the other edge thereof;third sharp wedge shaped breaking means located on the other side ofsaid blank adjacent said one edge thereof and in cutting relationshipthereto; fourth sharp wedge shaped breaking means located on said otherside of said blank adjacent said other edge thereof and in cuttingrelationship thereto; said breaking means all lying in a single planelocated transversely with respect to the plane of said blank; andextending only over the waste portions of said blank; means foractuating said breaking means simultaneously with respect to each other;whereby a portion of said blank is broken away along the scored edgesthereof. 12. Apparatus for breaking away scrap portions from a frangibleblank having a series of prescored areas;

said apparatus comprising: sharp wedge shaped breaking members locatedon opposite sides of said blank; said breaking members lying in a singleplane disposed transversely of the plane of the blank; means foractuating said breaking members with respect to each other; whereby aportion of said blank is broken away along the edges of a scored area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

9. A METHOD OF BREAKING AWAY SCRAP PORTIONS FROM A BLANK HAVING A SERIESOF PRESCORED AREAS; SAID METHOD COMPRISING: SUCCESSIVELY APPLYINGCUTTING AND WEDGING FORCES TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BLANK ADJACENT EACHOF THE LATERAL EDGES THEREOF AT PREDETERMINED INCREMENTS ALONG THELENGTH OF THE BLANK; WHEREBY THE SCRAP PORTIONS OF THE BLANK ARE CUT ANDWEDGED AWAY FROM SAID PRESCORED AREAS.